Lips and Lashes

Wearing //

Sincerely Jules tee

Express jeans on major sale!

Asos pumps, similar here 

Banana Republic bag (such a great year-round color)

Stella & Dot bracelet, similar

Stretch bracelets, similar

Kendra Scott ring

Beauty //

Lips in NYX Prague 

My best friend has always told me that as long as she has her lips painted and her lashes on, she feels like she can go out and conquer the world. In theory I agree although not entirely in practice. I've been known to go without makeup pretty often. This is mostly due to laziness of course, but sometimes a girl just needs a break from all the "war paint". Anyway, during my trip to scour the Nordstrom anniversary sale a couple weeks back, I spotted the line of one of my all-time favorite style bloggers. Julie from Sincerely Jules has her own clothing brand comprised of mostly tee shirts and cool girl pieces. I'm not normally a fan of graphic tees, but as soon as I spotted a doll face staring back at me, I knew I couldn't pass it up. It's darling! And how original of me to pair it with bright pink lips? Totally necessary.

Full disclosure: I don't usually have high hopes for celebrity clothing lines, but I have to admit I'm impressed. The quality is definitely there. The cotton is super soft, and the relaxed fit looks great with skinny denim and classic pumps. I'd sleep in it if I could but since I want this one to last, I'll stick to keeping it away from my lounge wear/workout tops/PJ drawer that most of my t-shirts sadly end up in.

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Happiest of Hours

Wearing //

Lulus dress

Target vest

J.Crew Factory clutch, similar

Zara pumps, similar here and here

Stella & dot necklace

Delezhen necklace, almost identical here

Nudestix "Mystic" pencil on lips

I love going to happy hour, as I'm sure many of you do too! It's nice to unwind after a long week and kick back with a drink while watching the sun go down. Now that I'm in my 30's, I'd much rather do this at a reasonable time and be home before dark so I can cuddle up with my dog, tear off my clothes and put yoga pants on, and watch Netflix. That's exactly what Nate and I did last Thursday and it was sheer perfection. A cold glass of bubbly prosecco, the last glimmer of light overlooking the mountains, and a charcuterie board to snack on while chuckling to ourselves about how the neighboring table had clearly started drinking at...let's just say a few hours earlier. We weren't able to catch up to them, but we still considered the happy hour a success. No hangover to show for it.

You know what else is pretty darn perfect? This long olive vest, which I can say with a bit of embarrassment that I have worn to absolute death. I throw it on over everything. I don't know what it is, but having that extra layer just adds a certain something. It makes you look thinner too, because it gives the illusion of a smaller waist and flatter tummy. Hey, after some appetizers and drinks, I needed all the help I could get!

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Currently Loving: Natural Hair

Since cutting my hair a couple of years ago, I've come to the realization that I am happiest when I don't have to fuss with it too much. For years, I've straightened and flat-ironed it to death in the hopes that it will magically behave and look exactly as I want it to. It's been so hot and dry this Summer that often the wash and go style is the most practical, so that's what I've been doing on a fairly regular basis. Who wants to spend time with hot tools when it's over 100 degrees outside?

***When I crave a more polished look, I'll go to my local blow-dry bar and have one of the girls deal with my locks. That's a secret weapon I feel all women should treat themselves to! I'm telling you it's better than a mani, pedi, or massage. It's a confidence boost in thirty minutes! You leave the salon feeling like a million bucks.***

But back to my current love - wearing my hair naturally on the days where I don't treat myself to a blow out and just let it dry and do its thing. I was once convinced that there wasn't a single product out there that would allow me this freedom, but I have found two recently that I have to share with you. For reference, I have fine hair, but a ton of it. I also have naturally wavy, frizzy hair. Sound like you? Well then read on! One is from the drugstore for less than $10, and the other I get at the salon but I know that department stores carry it as well.

John Frieda Air Dry Waves - This product is key. After washing my hair, I allow it to air dry for about 15 minutes, usually while I do my makeup. Then, I comb it using a wet brush and apply a generous amount of this foam, concentrating on the middle and ends of my hair. You can apply it to the roots as well, but because most of my frizz is focused on my ends, I don't find that I need much at the top. You have to make sure that your hair is still fairly damp, even to the point of soaking wet in order for this to work and seal in moisture so you don't end up with extra frizz.

Oribe Wave and Shine Spray - Once my hair is almost dry but not quite there, I use this spray to add even more wave. It also produces major shine and holds your waves in place. The fact that I want to bathe in the scent helps too!

Now I'm not claiming that all of my unwanted hair issues are solved, but these products are the best I have found and trust me, I have tried practically everything over the years. It may not be the most polished look, but if you prefer that, feel free to run a curling iron or wand to add more dimension. For me, I just like the ability to wash and go, so I use these and let mother nature do the rest. It fits into the whole Cali beach vibe.




Completely air-dried, using the above products:

What do you think? Do you let your hair do its own thing in the Summer?

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Laced Up

Wearing //

Express top

LOFT skirt

Sole Society heels

BR bag

Kendra Scott necklace

The laced up trend is going strong this Summer, and these shoes by Sole Society are my new favorites. It started with lace up flats, then quickly morphed into lace up sandals, and now it's all about lace up heels! These in particular are really comfortable and easy to walk in because the chunky wooden heel is fairly low. I was worried that maybe the laces would untie as I walked, but I wore them for my friend's birthday this weekend and they didn't budge. My only complaint is that they are difficult to lace up at first, but once you get the hang of it, it's fairly easy. You can tie them in the front, but I think they look more flattering tied in the back. I highly recommend a pair if you're curious about the trend. Yes they are a bit out of my comfort zone, but I am doing a lot of things lately that are pushing me to get out of my little bubble. More on that later :)

I hope you have a great Monday! Linking up with Carylee and Rachelle again.

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